Metro - Vancouver : Blog : Kenya's Style : LFW: Burberry Prorsum

Watching the Burberry Prorsum show yesterday, I couldn’t help thinking back to an article I wrote several years ago about climate change. I had interviewed a few retail buyers about how coats weren’t selling in stores because of the abnormally warm winters New York had been having for a while (I was living in Manhattan at the time). I remember Julie Gilhart, fashion director of Barneys New York, talking about how shoppers were mostly buying light layers (cashmere cardigans and lightweight jackets.) And I interviewed a few everyday women who feared they may never be able to wear their heavy wool coats again. We were all concerned about global warming.

Fast forward to last night’s show with its seemingly endless stream of covetable aviator-inspired wool, shearling and fur coats and it becomes clear that fashion really does change with the weather, which changes a lot. But what would we call this meteorological stage we’re in? Global freezing? Christopher Bailey was hardly the first to show an outerwear-focused collection this season, so far. But his doing so, (in such a big way, at that), kind of seals the moment. There will be plenty of luxe, warm utilitarian coats to pick from next autumn. And if next winter is anywhere near as cold as this one has been, they will most likely sell, very well.

Speaking of selling, I’m sure the popular recessionista idea of strategic shopping is at play here as well. Designers, editors and retailers alike have openly acknowledged that women are mostly limiting their big buys to shoes and coats in this economy. (Notice all of those lust-worthy buckled and thigh-high boots at Burberry.)

So with all of that said, this season is looking like it will be one of the most commercially viable we’ve seen in a few seasons. But let’s wait and see what happens in Milan and Paris.

Tags: London Fashion Week, Burberry Prorsum

Add your comment

Comments are not reviewed before posting. If you believe a comment has violated the commenting guidelines, please alert a moderator using links provided.